Abstract: Memory pool management may be provided by allocating storage blocks and handles in different parts of a larger memory pool. Two variable size sub-pools may be provided within the memory pool: a storage block sub-pool and a handle sub-pool. Each sub-pool has a variable size and may be allowed to grow until their combined size reaches the size of the memory pool. Both sub-pools may be allowed to grow into the same unused memory space. When a memory request is received from a program, the storage block sub-pool and handle sub-pool may be enlarged to accommodate the request. A storage block and a handle may be allocated to the program from the storage block and handle sub-pools, respectively.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for programmatically deriving street intersections from address data which is presented in textual format, or alternatively, from street geometry data which has been derived from such address data. Preferred embodiments leverage built-in functions and data types of a spatially-enabled object relational database system. Information about streets is analyzed to determine which streets intersect, as well as the intersection locations. This information is stored in a spatially-enabled table for subsequent retrieval. The derived street intersections data supports retrievals which do not rely on proprietary file formats or binary files, thereby enabling faster retrievals and reduced resource consumption requirements. The derived street intersection information may be used in many ways, such as to compute a path from one location to another.

Abstract: A system and method for handling set structured data through a computer network is disclosed. A client computer sends a request to retrieve or set data maintained by a Web application server. The client request is in a text format. The Web application server uses the action requested by the client and the data item being requested to determine a method name. Java reflection is used to invoke the method to retrieve or set the data value. In addition, text data received from the client computer is converted to the appropriate data type before storing in the data store, such as an LDAP directory. Data retrieved from the data store is also converted from the data item's data type to a Java text string that is included in an HTML Web page and returned to the client for display to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the connectivity of a virtual private network IP security (IPSec) tunnel between two network elements by originating a plurality of connection tests between the network elements. The first network element transmits a connectivity test message to the second network element over the secure tunnel upon receipt of an initiate connectivity test command. The secure tunnel includes two unidirectional tunnels. The second network element receives the connectivity test message over the first unidirectional secure tunnel and transmits a response back to the first network element over the second unidirectional secure tunnel. The number of successful responses received from the second network element are accumulated and the results are reported back to the source of the connectivity test command.

Abstract: Decisions to remove objects from a cache memory are made on an object-by-object basis. When a cache replacement decision is called for, a single object is selected from the cache. A weight value is assigned to the selected object in accordance with a predetermined methodology. The assigned object weight is compared to a current threshold weight. If the assigned object weight is the lesser of the two weights, the selected object is marked for removal from the cache and the threshold weight is reduced. If the assigned object weight is the greater of the two, the threshold weight is raised. In a preferred embodiment, the threshold weight is lowered more quickly than it is raised. The technique can be used in standalone workstations and in proxy servers, among other environments.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying layered data, such as data with a hierarchical relationship is provided. A flat tree view control is provided that indicates the level corresponding to individual data items without indenting data items. Layer bars, or markers, are used to indicate the level of the individual data items within the data hierarchy. In addition, color or grayscale shading can be applied to each data item to further indicate the item's level within the hierarchy. Items within the same level use the same color or shading. When an item is selected by the user it is expanded or collapsed depending on whether the layers below the selected item already appear on the display screen. Additional level indicator values can be used to further indicate the level of data items. A data item can also be highlighted to indicate a particular attribute corresponding with an individual data item.

Abstract: Objects can be tracked within a building using a radio device associated with each object to be tracked and an array of transmitting beacons. Each of the beacons transmits identification data. The received identification data from the object to be tracked is sent to a server which determines the location of the object. The identification data may be sent from the object to the server using a data communications network such as a local area network. The beacons may have a variable power output allowing the receipt or non-receipt of the signal from the beacon to be used to assist in locating the object. The beacons may be associated with an existing wireless communication mechanism, such as Bluetooth.

Abstract: A tamper-resistant anti-theft system suitable for vehicles includes a radio signal receiver capable of receiving periodically broadcast keep-alive signals. The keep-alive signals, each coded for a particular protected vehicle, are provided by a monitoring agency with which the protected property is registered. The anti-theft system includes logic for validating a received signal. The system also includes a run signal generator for generating a limited-duration run signal that permits the protected property to be used normally for the duration. If the vehicle is reported stolen, the monitoring agency stops broadcasting keep-alive signals for the vehicle. Once the current run signal lapses, operations are initiated to prevent further normal use of the vehicle. Property other than vehicles can be protected by the system.

Abstract: A method of customizing a graphical user interface (GUI) having one or more command structures (such as toolbars, pull-down menus, or status bars), by dynamically modifying the command structure in response to direct manipulation of the command structure using a graphical pointer of the GUI controlled by a pointing device (e.g., mouse). The structures may be modified using a direct manipulation “drag-and-drop” procedure. A command item can be dragged from a first location within a command structure to a second location within the same command structure, simply moving the position of the item within that structure. The command item can also be dragged from a first location within a command structure to a second location outside of the command structure, such as to a trash bin provided by the GUI (for deletion of the item), or to a second command structure (for moving or copying the item, e.g., from a toolbar to a pull-down menu).

Abstract: A command line interface for a data processing system includes an output facility that displays outputs to an operator, a parser that validates inputs entered a command line, a command processor that processes commands validated by the parser. The command line interface preferably supports a prompt mode in which the output facility displays an editable prompt that may be modified by the user to construct a command. In addition, the parser preferably defines separate validation and execution point inputs including at least one validation-only point input, so that inputs are permitted to span multiple input lines and so that atomic sets of commands can be constructed by entering multiple commands on a single input line.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining vehicle-specific settings for a user of a vehicle. Normalized positions settings in a reference vehicle, or alternatively, normalized user measurements of a reference user are stored to a storage media, such as a smart card. In this manner, a user profile is created on the storage media. The normalized position settings and normalized user measurements provide references that may be used in determining the most suitable settings for a specific user of a specific vehicle. A vehicle user thus may carry a user profile on a storage media for use across all different models and brands of vehicles. The user profile may be used to automatically adjust the settings in other vehicles than the user's primary vehicle which allows a user to change vehicles without having to take the time to re-adjust the vehicle settings.

Abstract: A method and system for providing enhanced peer redundancy in an ATM emulated local area network (ELAN) served by a primary LAN emulation server (LES), a peer LAN emulation server, a broadcast and unknown server (BUS), and a LAN emulation configuration server (LECS). An enhanced peer redundancy virtual channel connection (VCC) is established between the primary LES/BUS and the peer LES/BUS. The primary LES/BUS and the peer LES/BUS exchange status messages every two seconds indicating the number of assigned LECs. If the primary has fewer LECs than the peer, the primary yields to the peer as the active LES/BUS. If an enhanced redundancy VCC was not established, the backup LES/BUS provides ELAN services while waiting for the primary to call to establish an enhanced redundancy VCC. If an enhanced peer redundancy VCC cannot be established, the primary attempts to establish a redundancy VCC with the peer in which the peer LES/BUS is kept in a dormant mode as long as the redundancy VCC is present.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the status of an active secure tunnel between a pair of network elements in a communications network. The first network element originates and transmits an Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) test message to a second network element using a first unidirectional secure tunnel in response to the receipt of an active tunnel monitor command. The second network element receives the IPSec test message and transmits a response back to the first network element using a second unidirectional secure tunnel. The number of times that second network element failed to return a response to an IPSec test message is accumulated during a predetermined time interval and then compared with a threshold value to determine if the active secure tunnel has become disabled.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for acquiring normalized position settings for use across different vehicle models. A reference user first sits in the vehicle and adjust the settings to preferred positions, i.e., vehicle-specific settings. The vehicle-specific settings are then retrieved from measurement sensors positioned on the components of the vehicle. The translation algorithms for the vehicle are read, and the vehicle-specific settings are translated to normalized position settings based on the translation algorithms. The normalized position settings may then be stored to a storage media that may be carried to other brands and models of vehicles for use in determining the appropriate settings in those vehicles.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for accessing an alternative display from a data processing system by automatically discovering the accessibility of a display server operably associated with a network upon connection of the data processing system with the network. Display information corresponding to display content to be rendered by a display of the data processing system is generated and provided to the display server over the network so as to allow the corresponding display content to be rendered by the display server on a display associated with the display server.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for programmatically deriving street geometry data from address data which is presented in textual format. A collection of address information is used as input, and is processed in a novel manner to populate tables of a spatially-enabled database. Preferred embodiments use a data mart schema which is disclosed, and leverage built-in functions of a spatially-enabled object relational database system. In contrast to prior art techniques, the present invention does not require input data to be encoded in a “well-known” format (i.e. a format that adheres to particular predefined syntax conventions known as “WKT” or “WKB”); rather, textual information of the type which is readily available from government and/or commercial sources may be used as input.

Abstract: A user's comprehension of computer-generated data is enhanced by providing a visual representation of the data including a multi-character string. Before allowing the user to initiate a desired computer operation, the user is required to correctly enter characters matching the characters of the represented multi-character string. In one embodiment, the string representation is altered as matching characters are entered and recognized. In another embodiment, the multi-character string is presented initially and then masked before the user begins to enter characters. A character mask is removed each time a correct matching character is entered.

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for achieving enhanced performance in communications between a plurality of emulated networks overlaid onto at least one base network, wherein the communications involve one or more source route bridges. The method and system accomplish their objects via the following. Determining when communication is to occur, through the one or more source route bridges, and between at least two entities where a first of the at least two entities is a member of a first emulated network and where a second of the at least two entities is a member of another of the plurality of emulated networks. Informing the at least one of the at least two entities of one or more addresses consonant with the protocols of the at least one base network wherein the one or more addresses identify one or more base network entities closely correspondent to at least one of the at least two entities.

Abstract: A command line interface for a network management platform includes a parser that parses and validates inputs entered at a command line, a command processor that, responsive to validation of a command, causes an operation specified by the command to be performed, and an output facility that presents outputs of the command line interface. The parser preferably enforces a syntax addressing a plurality of attributes of a network device as a tree-like hierarchy including at least two containers. The parser permits network device attributes, which are each contained in at least one container, to be contained by multiple containers of the same type so that such attributes are addressable via a plurality of different access paths. The output facility preferably provides one or more outputs for operations specified by processed input commands, and the one or more outputs preferably include at least one output command specifying a network management operation to be performed.

Abstract: A system and method for DEN/LDAP client database access with backoff capability. A current tree of directory information maintained at an LDAP server is used by LDAP clients to retrieve policy configuration information. When an LDAP client wishes to update policy configuration information, a new tree is created by cloning the current or a previous tree or by building a new tree. When the LDAP client is finished updating the new tree, the path for using LDAP clients is set to the new tree and the clients are requested to read LDAP policy configuration information using the new path. If the new tree of policy configuration information is found to be unsuitable, the clients' path is reset to the original tree and the clients are requested to read LDAP information policies using the reset path.